How to Quote on Lawns – The Complete Guide.

How to Quote on Lawns (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Margin)

How to quote on lawns isn’t just about tossing out a number and hoping it sticks. It’s about protecting your time, keeping your income predictable, and not getting stuck doing 60-minute lawns for $30. If you’ve been there, you know.

So here’s a plain-English, boots-on-the-ground guide to help you quote smarter, faster, and with more confidence.

People Will Contact You in All Kinds of Ways

Leads will come in from everywhere—email, phone, text, Facebook Messenger, and even when you’re out mowing. Not all of them are worth your time. Some will ghost after one question. Some will haggle endlessly. Qualifying them is key.

If it’s a message, don’t ask too many questions. Just book the quote. If it’s a phone call, ask your questions upfront. It’s the best way to weed out the time-wasters and lock in the good ones.

Over time, you’ll get better at spotting which leads are likely to go somewhere and which ones will leave you chasing your tail. Some indicators? If the first message is, “What’s your cheapest price?” or “Can you do it today?”—be cautious. These usually aren’t the loyal, long-term clients you’re after.

Another sign is how quickly they respond. If someone takes three days to get back to you about a quote or appointment, they’re probably not in a rush—or not serious. You want people who are responsive, decisive, and know what they want.

Know Your Numbers Before You Even Start

How much do you want to earn per day?

Let’s say your goal is $2,000 a week. Half of that will go to running costs—fuel, maintenance, tax, ACC, gear, etc. That leaves you $1,000 take-home.

To hit $2,000 in a 40-hour week, you’d need to earn $50/hr. But here’s the kicker—you won’t be mowing for 40 hours. There’s driving, quoting, fueling, blade changing, repairs.

You’ll be lucky to get 6.5 productive hours in a day. That means you need to earn $60/hr just to break even.

So start there. You’re running a business, not a charity.

You also need to remember that not every hour of your day is equal. A 9:00 a.m. job in a well-set-up run is far more efficient than a 2:30 p.m. one-off on the other side of town.

Travel Time Changes Everything When Quoting for Lawn Care Services

When looking at how to quote on lawns, you’re not just quoting for time-on-lawn. A 60-minute lawn might save you travel time if it’s close to the previous job. That’s 7-10 minutes you didn’t have to drive. Use that to stay competitive.

On the flip side, long travel? Charge for it. Don’t eat the cost because you didn’t want to lose the job. If it’s a 15-minute drive past your usual patch, that’s 30 minutes round trip—price it in.

Don’t forget that if you’re using a trailer or have a large vehicle setup, turning around or parking might take extra time. Add this into your mental checklist when quoting.

You should also think about time spent reversing out of difficult driveways, or dealing with shared access situations where your vehicle might block others. It all adds up.

Always Have a Minimum Price

My rule:

• Minimum regular mow: $30
• Minimum one-off mow: $60

One-offs are time-wasters unless you charge accordingly. If they say no to your minimum, you’ve saved yourself the drive. If they say yes, great. You’re covered.

One-off mows are often in rough shape too. You could be dealing with knee-high grass, abandoned toys, or rogue cabbage tree leaves. Make it worth your time.

Also, remember to communicate this clearly. When someone rings asking for a mow, don’t be shy:

“Just so you know, our minimum for one-off jobs is $60. That covers up to 60 minutes of work. If it’s more, I’ll let you know when I see it.”

It sets expectations and filters the price shoppers.

How to quote on lawns by asking the right questions

• One-off or regular?
• Are there dogs?
• Full name, address, and phone number (spelled clearly)
• How they found you
• Any tricky details about the job

Ask about gates (are they locked?), access (is the lawn behind the house?), and pets (are they going to be inside?). These little things make a big difference to your time on site.

Also, ask if they want the grass taken away. Some customers just assume you’ll do it.

Show Up Like a Pro

• Wear your logo shirt (or at least look clean)
• Have business cards
• Use deodorant if you’ve been sweating all day
• Take off your sunglasses
• Knock before walking around

Smile. Be polite. Listen. Ask what the last guy did wrong (if applicable). You’ll learn a lot.

If they’re a serial complainer about past contractors—run. Quote high or walk away.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of how you present yourself. A clean shirt and good attitude can be the difference between landing the job or not.

Be mindful of your body language. Slouching, fidgeting, or rushing can signal uncertainty. Calm, confident, and professional wins every time.

Estimating Time: Measuring Wheel or Gut Feel

Most experienced lawn guy who know how to quote on lawns quote based on time:

• Estimate how long the job will take
• Multiply that by your hourly rate (mine is $1 per minute)

If you’re off by a bit, adjust after a few cuts. If it keeps taking longer than expected—price increase.

Don’t be afraid to time the first mow. It’s not unprofessional. It’s just being smart.

If you’re unsure about your estimate, lean toward overestimating rather than under. You can always adjust if the job turns out easier than expected.

What to Look For While Quoting

• Size: Use your mower size to your advantage
• Terrain: Hills take longer. Charge for them.
• Mulch or Catch: Mulch is quicker. Caught and left adds 20%. Taken away? Add 5% more.
• Trees: More trees = more line trimming. Add time.
• Toys, trampolines: Moving them adds time. If they’re fixed, charge to mow under.
• Seasons: Spring takes 10-20% longer. Autumn = leaf cleanup. Quote accordingly.
• Mess: Hoses, dog poo, junk? Charge more.
• Parking: Hard-to-access places cost time. Price for it.
• Steps and levels: If you have to lift your mower, charge for it.
• Gate size: Will your mower even fit?
• Noise-sensitive areas: Some jobs require time-specific mowing—like after school drop-off. Build it in.
• Grass conditions: Wet grass? Thick thatch? Takes longer to cut and cleanup. Quote accordingly.

All of these affect how long the job takes and how annoying it might be. Don’t ignore them.

Quoting the Customer

If they’re home, give them a price on the spot. Watch their reaction. If they flinch—maybe you’re high. If that keeps happening, rethink your pricing. It will take a bit of time to figure how to quote on lawn properly.

If they haggle, try this:

Customer: “Can you do it for $30 instead of $35?” You: “Let me have another quick look.” (walk around, then say): “Actually, after looking again, I’d say it’s a $40 lawn.”

They’ll almost always accept the $35 you originally wanted. Everyone wins.

Don’t be afraid to walk away either. If a customer feels like too much work before you’ve even started, it won’t get better later.

And if they say yes—do the job right away if you can. Don’t give them time to change their mind or call someone else.

Follow Up After the Quote

Send a quick text:

“Thanks for the opportunity to quote. Just so you’ve got it for your records: Lawn quote = $45. Let me know if you’d like to go ahead.”

It’s a soft nudge. You might win back a few.

If you gave a verbal quote and think you went too high, you can lower it slightly in your follow-up without losing face. They’ll assume they misheard.

Some people need a few days to think about it. A polite follow-up can bring them back into the fold.

Follow-Up Tricks for lawn care pricing

• Mowed a one-off? Text two weeks later: “Want another mow? I’ve got a spot this week. $??”
• Didn’t get the job? Text six weeks later: “Hope your new mower is working out! If anything changes, give me a call.”

Keep it light and friendly. You’re just planting seeds.

Follow-up is where a lot of small businesses fall short. You don’t need to be annoying—just consistent. Two polite messages spaced apart can help you turn cold leads into hot bookings.

How to quote on lawns without making the most common mistakes

• Undercutting: You’ll end up broke and burned out.
• Overcharging: You’ll lose every quote.
• Discounting too much: If you give 10% off, that’s forever. Not worth it unless it’s strategic (first mow, pensioner special, etc.)
• Ignoring red flags: If a customer is difficult before the first mow, they won’t get easier.
• Not tracking quotes: Use Google Calendar or a CRM. Keep records.

Instead of Discounts, Offer a Point of Difference

• Free reminder text the night before
• Dog-friendly service
• Tidy up any branches touching your van
• Quotes delivered within one hour
• Flexible payment options (online, card, cash)

These add value without cutting your price.

Tools That Help

• Clipboard and quote pad (Vistaprint makes good ones)
• Google Calendar to track follow-ups
• Deodorant (seriously, it helps)
• Your phone’s camera (photo your quotes and label them by date)
• A quoting form or app like Jobber or ServiceM8 if you’re going digital
• A basic CRM or spreadsheet to track accepted/rejected quotes
• Use Google Maps and Street View before quoting in person

Pricing Isn’t Just About the Lawn

Learning how to quote on a lawn is best done by taking everything into consideration. You’re quoting for your time, your fuel, your skills, your tools, and your ability to show up week after week, rain or shine.

So price accordingly.

Also, always time your jobs. If you’re not measuring how long they take, you’re guessing—and guesswork costs money.

One Last Tip: Quote Like You Mean It

If you sound unsure, the customer will feel unsure. Say your price clearly, confidently, and then shut up. Let them speak next. Most people are fine with your price if you are.

Confidence builds trust. So practice your delivery. Rehearse it out loud if you have to. Then quote and go.

How to Quote on a Lawn my Final Thoughts

When learning how to quote on lawns, quoting gets easier with time. You’ll make mistakes, underprice jobs, and sometimes think, “What was I doing?” That’s part of the learning curve.

Keep notes. Adjust your rates. Don’t be afraid to price increase. The key is to learn and evolve.

Quoting isn’t about getting every job. It’s about getting the right jobs at the right price.

Stay sharp out there—and quote like you mean it.

Need help with quoting, you can join my free community here

Until then, happy mowing.